{"id":2408,"date":"2023-11-13T12:57:27","date_gmt":"2023-11-13T11:57:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.essextabletennis.org.uk\/wordpress\/?p=2408"},"modified":"2023-11-13T13:03:39","modified_gmt":"2023-11-13T12:03:39","slug":"close-encounter-of-the-table-tennis-kind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.essextabletennis.org.uk\/wordpress\/2023\/11\/13\/close-encounter-of-the-table-tennis-kind\/","title":{"rendered":"CLOSE ENCOUNTER OF THE TABLE TENNIS KIND"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There are close matches, very close matches and very, very close matches – and the Division Three <\/strong>clash in the Clacton League between Windsor Magpies and Walton E certainly fell into the very, very close category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The final score was 8-2 to the Magpies but the score-line failed to tell the whole story, with no less than seven<\/em> of the individual matches going the distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Magpies\u2019 skipper John Plummer had 11-8 in the fifth wins against both Maggie Earle and Lynette Sparks, whilst Alan Rutledge\u2019s hat-trick included an 11-6 in the fifth victory over Sparks and an 11-8 in the fifth victory against Adrian Sexton. Dave Sweetland won the Magpies\u2019 fifth five-setter, beating Earle 11-6 in the decider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walton managed to take just two of the full-distance matches, Sparks beating Sweetland 11-5 in the decider and then, in her fourth full-distance match of the evening, partnering Earle to take the doubles 11-6 in the decider against Plummer and Sweetland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With seven matches going to five, two settled in four and just one settled in three-straight, it was – despite the final score-line – one of the most tightly-fought matches in the League for many seasons.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In their second match of the week, the Magpies defeated Nomads Bobcats by a similar 8-2 score, although this time with a little more to spare. On this occasion it was Sweetland who stayed unbeaten, with Rutledge and Plummer winning a pair apiece. Mike Vilka took the two points for the Bobcats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Walton suffered a second defeat of the week in their second fixture, a 10-0 reverse at the hands of the fast-improving Nomads Leopards. Dominic Joannou, Bob Jillins and Stu Wilkinson all recorded trebles, Wilkinson\u2019s 11-5 in the fifth win against Maggie Earle the only match which went the distance. Perhaps Walton\u2019s energy levels had run out?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another 8-2 result in this Division saw Brotherhood E defeat Brotherhood F, Duncan Dunne and Tony Edmonds taking maximum points. Lucy Carvell and JJ Barry took a point each for the \u2018F\u2019 team and, although Tom Bryden ended pointless, he played well before losing 11-4 in the fifth to Dunne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isabel Barton was the player of the match as Windsor Harriers notched up a second 10-0 win in as many weeks, this time over Nomads Lynx. Only one individual match went beyond a third set, Ian Gwillim testing Jenny Higgins before Higgins took it 11-2, 11-8, 5-11, 11-8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Division One<\/strong> everyone picked up at least a point as Nomads Panthers beat Walton A 7-3. Greg Green, making his first appearance of the season, took three, John Hatley two and Gill Locke one. Derek Willis, Kevin James and David Binns each took a point for Walton, James beating Hatley 11-9 in the decider but narrowly losing 12-10 in the decider to Locke, Binns edging out Locke 11-9 in the fifth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mark Gale was the best player on show as Walton C and Nomads Lions shared the spoils in the Division\u2019s first drawn match of the season. Two of Gale\u2019s wins were in five, 11-3 in the decider against Martyn Green and 11-9 in the decider against Jason Lloyd. However, the closest match of the evening was Mark Ratcliffe\u2019s 7-11, 12-10, 6-11, 13-11, 12-10 victory over Jason Lloyd. Green and Ethan Lloyd picked up a couple of wins each for the Lions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daniel Young stayed unbeaten, whilst there were two for John Barton and one for Ian Fielder, as the all-Windsor clash ended 6-4 in favour of the Hawks against the Buzzards. But the Buzzards will feel a degree of satisfaction in producing their best performance of the season, Andy Cawley winning two, Pete Bloomfield one, with the pair sharing an excellent 11-8 in the fifth doubles win against Young and Fielder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brotherhood A were 9-1 winners against a Windsor Eagles\u2019 side fielding a reserve, John Cleasby, Russell Hillier and Gary Young all remaining unbeaten. Phil Smith and John Hobson picked up a consolation point with an unexpected 11-6 in the decider doubles win against Cleasby and Hillier. Smith lost two close singles matches, 11-6 in the fifth to Hillier and 14-12 in the fifth to Cleasby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Division Two<\/strong> Brotherhood D proved their season\u2019s start was no flash in the pan by defeating Lawford 8-2. Simon Smith-Daye won his three, whilst there were two each for Kevin Pryor and Joe Plummer. Richard Spence was Lawford\u2019s best player, taking two points for the losers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trebles for Dave Miller and Colin Webber, with a couple from John Hockley, saw Nomads Tigers to a 9-1 win over Windsor Kestrels who, even at this early stage of the season, are beginning to look isolated at the bottom. Debra Found took the Kestrels\u2019 consolation point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

* Details of the draw and fixtures for the Group stages of the Handicap Cup competition should be with Team Secretaries by 18th November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RESULTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division 1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Windsor Eagles 1 Brotherhood A 9;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walton C 5 Nomads Lions 5;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Windsor Hawks 6 Windsor Buzzards 4;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nomads Panthers 7 Walton A 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division 2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brotherhood D 8 Lawford 2;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nomads Tigers 9 Windsor Kestrels 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division 3<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Windsor Magpies 8 Nomads Bobcats 2;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Windsor Magpies 8 Walton E 2;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Windsor Harriers 10 Nomads Lynx 0;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brotherhood E 8 Brotherhood F 2;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nomads Leopards 10 Walton E 0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n